Machine Meaning
/məˈʃiːn/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA device that directs and controls energy, often in the form of movement or electricity, to produce a certain effect.
nounA vehicle operated mechanically, such as an automobile or an airplane.
Sentence Examples
The brain is just a complicated machine.
Someday I will buy a cotton candy machine.
My assistant will now demonstrate the machine in action.
CEFR Practice Quiz
To speed up production, the factory installed a new ____ that packages items automatically.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The factory uses an advanced ____ to package the products quickly and with a very high level of precision.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-der.? Doric Greek μηχᾰνή (mēkhănḗ) Doric Greek μᾱχᾰνᾱ́ (mākhănā́)bor. Latin māchinabor. Middle French machinebor. English machine Borrowed from Middle French machine, from Latin māchina (“a machine, engine, contrivance, device, stratagem, trick”), from Doric Greek μᾱχᾰνᾱ́ (mākhănā́), cognate with Attic Greek μηχᾰνή (mēkhănḗ, “a machine, engine, contrivance, device”), from which comes mechanical. Displaced native Old English searu.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine."
— 2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly):
"As he stood directly beneath a brilliant arc light, waiting for a limousine that was approaching to pass him, he heard his name called in a sweet feminine voice. Looking up, he met the smiling eyes of Olga de Coude as she leaned forward upon the back seat of the machine. He bowed very low in response to her friendly greeting. When he straightened up the machine had borne her away."
— 1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “What Happened in the Rue Maule”, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published March 1915, →OCLC, pages 40–41:
"As the aviator turned his machine to reconnoitre in the new direction, he was surprised to see the hostile aeroplane between him and his objective."
— 1914 July, F. Britten Austin, “The Air-Scout”, in The Strand Magazine, volume XLVIII, London: George Newnes, Ltd., page 568:
""Joe, how soon will you be ready to roll?" Frank Hardy burst into the garage where his brother was working on a sleek, black-and-silver motorcycle. "Right now, if this machine kicks over," Joe replied, putting down a wrench."
— 1928, Franklin W. Dixon, The Missing Chums, Grosset & Dunlap, page 1:
"Now, here, he is a Racer. He throws his leg over the machine and settles onto the narrow rubber seat. He pushes it through its revolution twice with his hand, slowly, to force the fuel into the carburetor. Then he stands with his left foot on the peg and jumps down on the lever with his right. The engine starts immediately; he takes very good care of his machine. He sits down, waiting for it to warm up. He caresses the top of the tank, understanding that the machine cannot feel the gesture but content that he can."
— 1976 August, David Laraway, “Weekends and Other Days: Loving at the edge of life”, in Edith Raymond Locke, editor, Mademoiselle, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 256, columns 1–2:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
To speed up production, the factory installed a new ____ that packages items automatically.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The factory uses an advanced ____ to package the products quickly and with a very high level of precision.